Self-aligned nematic crystallization of poly(oxypropylene)amine intercalated silicates on toluene/water interface

A self-assembly stacking on liquid–liquid interface of intercalated smectite silicates results in nematic structure and self-aligning nature, was revealed in this study. The stacking crystalline of polyoxypropylene amine intercalated montmorillonite, with a diameter of 200 nm and a length more than 10 μm, was found. Polyoxpropylene amine with hydrophobic polymer coil renders its <S2> radius of gyration to expand d-spacing of silicate clay to 58 Å. The texture rearrangement is not only applied to interlayer structure but also to inter-particles structure [010] of clays. The crystallization is formed through the primary organo-clays align on interface and undergoes a face-to-face stacking.